Arizona Mountain Mushers News Vol. III No. 4 December 2008 Officers for 2007-2008 President: Cheri Engelhardt 928-527-9442 Vice-President: Ron Miller 928-368-4515 Secretary: Gery Allan 928-853-4037 Treasurer: Valerie Dockter 928-635-5216 Newsletter Jann Schmohl 520-742-2929 Website Dave Koerner 928-853-4037 Weight Pull Committee: Dave/Gery/Beth/Jim/Val From Da Prez. We want to wish everyone a Happy Holliday season! Slow down, take your time, and be safe out there as the world is spinning very fast these days. Let s get the New Year started out on the right paw! Happy Holidays from our house to yours! Cheri and Frank From Da Veep- The 7th Annual White Mountain Winter Games are closer to reality now as the planning team has started the ball rolling. Sled dog races are planned to be held at Sunrise on January 31 and February 1. A weight pull and other events are being planned for Hon-Dah Resort and Casino. The other events should include a chili cook-off, Apache Crown Dancers, and an appearance by the reigning Miss White Mountain Apache. Arizona Highways is planning on covering the races. --- Ron "EVERY WINTER OUR MINDS TURN TO MUSH!" WHITE MOUNTAIN WINTER GAMES 2009 January 31-February 1, 2009 Celebrate the 7th Annual White Mountain Winter Games 3-dog and 4-dog races, weight pull contest and more! Sunrise Ski Resort, Arizona MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!!
Mushing The Grand Canyon by Dave Koerner Climate change seems to delay fall training and shorten the winter sledding season a little bit more each year. What's an Arizona Mountain Musher to do? For colder temperatures and more snow, one can go north or up. A 1,000-foot elevation gain corresponds roughly to a 200-hundred mile move north with respect to average temperatures. At 7,000 feet, Flagstaff mushers rely on this effect to enjoy sledding in the otherwise desert state of Arizona. But what if that's not enough in the age of global warming? One could start ascending the San Francisco Peaks, but navigable up-slope trails are few and far between. At about 10,000 ft, Snowbowl ski resort often has a lot of snow. So you re in luck if you're up for X-treme mushing while careening perilously down a steep ski slope. Alas, I'm too old for that sort of thing (and have been ever since I was born). And besides, I'm not sure dogs are very comfortable getting there in a ski lift. Yes, I jest, but with a point the peaks get pretty vertical higher up, and there aren t many high-elevation forest roads and trails. Wouldn't it be great if there was a large flat and accessible area of land nearby that was ribboned with miles and miles of trails at an elevation between 8,000 and 9,000 feet? Hang on to your ski mask - there is! On the north rim of Grand Canyon, the Kaibab plateau is known for cold temperatures and lots of snow. Both the northern section of Grand Canyon National Park and the key road into it, Highway 67, are closed to automobiles every winter for just this reason. Snowmobiles are also prohibited on Highway 67, but miles and miles of criss-crossing and parallel Forest Development Roads (FDR) in the Kaibab National Forest remain open. In fact, the National Forest service has signed a 40 mile snowmobile trail on some roads for recreational use. It stretches about 30 miles south from Highway 89A at Jacob Lake ( http://www.jacoblake.com ), then jogs west, north of and parallel to the National Park boundary. Finally, it emerges in a convenient lollipop at North Timp Point, a stunning canyon overlook in the vicinity of the Kanab Creek Wilderness. Figure 1 - Sign that identifies the Kaibab snowmobile trail On the weekend before Thanksgiving, I drove over to the north rim to check it out. The 150-mile drive from our house to Jacob Lake is slightly shorter than the drive to Phoenix. I stopped in at the National Forest Visitor center adjacent to Jacob Lake Inn and learned that the key contact, Kevin Larkin, had an office in the Fredonia Ranger Station 30 miles to the north. Meanwhile, I was surprised to discover the National Park still open! It usually closes October 15, but the park superintendent kept it open later this year as a possible source of additional revenue. I took the opportunity to visit the north rim back country office in the national park. The principal ranger had worked in Minnesota and Montana and was familiar with the John Beargrease and other dog sled races. He seemed very positive about dog-sledding in the park. A small number of over-winter employees keep the campground "open" for hikers from the south and cross-country skiers from the north. Dog sledding is likely to be permitted in the park, but not snowmobiles for breaking trail. However, wintering employees periodically snowmobile out of the park and along the National Forest snowmobile trail for groceries. They have recently purchased a snow cat and might be persuaded to groom the trail with a drag belonging to the Forest Service. With a little coordination, it sounds like one could make use of a trail that had been put in all the way to Bright Angel Point. The rangers also told me that the national park is re-doing its recreation management plan
and may have public hearings in the very near future. I was encouraged to speak up for dog sledding when the time for hearings is at hand! Kevin Larkin was recently hired as the Recreation and Lands Staff officer for the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. He comes to the job after a stint in New Hampshire's White Mountains, where he became familiar with mushers. I met with him in the morning after a stay at Kanab's Parry Lodge, haunt of past Hollywood actors that starred in the many westerns filmed in the surrounding canyon country. A quick glance at Kevin's bookshelf indicated a simpatico administrator! Barry Lopez's "Arctic Dreams" and "Of Men and Wolves" graced a collection of the best nature writing, including multiple volumes of Thoreau and classics by Edward Abbey. I told Kevin about Arizona Mountain Mushers as well as our personal interest in sledding the snowmobile trail after it had been packed down. He pointed out a great group campsite along the trail at Mile and a Half Lake and said that snowmobiling was active in the national forest and on the designated trail whenever snow was good. In fact, the Flagstaff wing of the Arizona Snowmobile Association apparently makes the trip at least once a year. The N-S portion of the trail is mostly between 8,000 and 9,000 feet and retains snow well. The E-W leg to N. Timp point descends to about 7,500 feet, and snow is less reliable. The turn off to N. Timp Point is near a designated Snow Play area that is just a few miles from the Kaibab Lodge. Kaibab Lodge ( http://www.kaibablodge.com ) is on Highway 67 just north of the National Park boundary. It caters largely to canyon visitors in the summer season and hunters in early fall. Former owners operated it through the winter for nordic sports enthusiasts. At one time, these included a mushing contingent with members from our own club that made the trek by dog sled from Jacob Lake. Past participant and AMM president Denise Edwards can tell you the whole story! Current owners are exploring winter operations somewhat more tentatively. A small number of skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers stayed in a few rooms there in the last couple winters. This facility raises the possibility of mushing to warm rooms and food ready and waiting. One could then mush over to N. Timp point and back, or perhaps to Bright Angel Point along Park-employee snowmobile trails. Either possibility seems very exciting! Figure 2 - Historic Jacob Lake Ranger Station (left) and old-growth Ponderosa (right) Don t forget your doggie gifts this holiday! Filled Doggie Treats 6 slices whole wheat bread 1/2 cup natural unsweetened peanut butter 1/2 large banana 1/4 cup brewers yeast 1/2 cup cup shredded cheese Pre-heat oven to 225 degrees F. Mash together bananas with peanut butter, leaving some small chunks. Add brewers yeast and mix well. Sandwich between slices of bread and cut out into shapes using bone shaped (or other) cookie cutter. Place on greased cookie sheet and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in a low oven (225F) for 10-15 minutes or until biscuits are brown and crunchy on top. Cool completely before serving. Can be kept in freezer. Sweet Holiday Corn-dy Canes 1 cup corn flour or finely ground corn meal 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 3 Tbs. honey 1/4 cup water 1 Tbs. of oil 3 Tbs. finely grated raw beets Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix flours; add oil, water and honey. Mix well. Divide dough in two and add the raw beets to one half, mixing in well to color. Roll each half between your palms into 1/2 inch diameter log, and then twist the red and white logs together to make a striped cane. Roll the cane back and forth under your hands on a lightly floured board until it is 1/4 inch diameter. Cut to desired lengths and shape into small candy cane shapes. Transfer to lightly greased cookie sheet and bake until lightly golden and firm.
TREASURERS REPORT: This is a short report as our Val is having issues with her computer. She says that we have $1511.55 in our treasury and all of the outstanding bills have been paid. Now we just need to pull in the sponsors for our very own Flagstaff/Mormon Lake event. The picture to the left is a Sammy team for which our Val may aspire! Here is a great gift idea for your beloved musher enthusiast: Advertisement:
Arizona Mountain Mushers The mission of the Arizona Mountain Mushers is to promote dog sled sports by sponsoring cart races, sled races, weight-pulling contest, backpacking trips, behavior classes, obedience classes, and nutritional development classes. And to engage in any other activity relevant to those listed above intended to promote the welfare of dogs and persons associated with dogs. President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Newsletter Editor Cheri Englehardt Ron Miller Gery Allan Val Docktor Jann Schmohl 6099 N. Panorama Ridge Pl. Tucson, AZ. 85704 ARIZONA MOUNTAIN MUSHERS 6099 N. Panorama Ridge Pl. Tucson, AZ 85704